Lot 285
1958-1961 US Silver Half Dollars
Sold October 23, 2025
- Price realized
- $250
Price realized is the winning bid (hammer price) and excludes buyer’s premium.
About this lot
Estimated Value: $250-400
Origin: United States
Denomination: Half Dollar
Year: 1958-1961
Mint: Philadelphia
Grade: Various Conditions
Metal: Silver
Weight: 249.8g total
Additional Description: The 1958–1961 U.S. Silver Half Dollars belong to the later years of the Franklin series, a design that favored realism and historical significance over classical symbolism. Created by John R. Sinnock and struck in 90% silver, the obverse features a thoughtful profile of Benjamin Franklin—one of the few non-presidential figures to appear on American coinage—while the reverse showcases the Liberty Bell, its iconic crack plainly visible, alongside a modest eagle to meet statutory design requirements.
Minted during a period of postwar confidence and Cold War complexity, these coins circulated in an America shaped by technological advancement, suburban growth, and increasing global leadership. The design remained unchanged throughout the series, but by the early 1960s, rising silver prices and public interest in new coinage were beginning to signal transition. These half dollars, struck just before the Kennedy series would redefine the denomination in 1964, are now valued both for their silver content and for capturing the calm, deliberate character of a mid-century nation on the verge of change.
Lot details
- Lot
- 285
- Closed
- October 23, 2025
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